All were led by Bakken, who has turned the program into the area's most successful in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored activities. St. Cloud Area, which is made up of students from Apollo, Tech, Sartell and Sauk Rapids, is a state power in all three seasons.

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St. Cloud area Thunder adaptive soccer team coach Mike Bakken, center, gathers the team at the end of practice Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at Apollo High School.(Photo: Jason Wachter, jwachter@stcloudtimes.com)

For the program's success, Bakken has been named the Times Media Coach of the Year.

"Wow," Bakken said. "That's quite an honor.

"I appreciate it."

It's the third year Times Media has selected a coach of the year. Past winners include Becker football coach Dwight Lundeen in 2016 and Sartell dance team coach Kelly McCarney in 2017.

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during the adapted floor hockey state tournament championship game Saturday, March 17, 2018, in Bloomington.(Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Bakken, a St. Cloud State graduate from Richfield, has devoted his professional career to education and coaching students with impairments. What's the motivation?

"That's a good question," Bakken said. "It's just a passion to coach.

"I've still got the desire, the passion and the energy to do it. There are some tough days. It'd be nice to just walk the dog some days and stay home."

Matthew, 22, played hockey at Sartell and is a senior at the University of North Dakota. Clara, 19, is a sophomore at UND. Anna, 17, will be a senior at Sartell. Emily, 15, is a sophomore at Sartell who competes in cross country, track and field and Nordic skiing.

But the rewards have been great. Any student, impaired or not, has an opportunity to be a part of a team and to compete. And, St. Cloud Area is doing it well.

They have won back-to-back state softball championships. They won the floor hockey title this year after taking second last year. The soccer program has consistently been in the top five in the state for a decade.

The team has been so good that Apollo named Dayton Wientjes, an adapted athlete, its male athlete of the year.

He's one of three seniors, including Cole Wensel and Nyagun Gach, who leave the program. But the dynasty could continue, Bakken said.